Starter



June 18,` 1940. R, G, RlNoT 2,204,698

STARTER |-NVENT0R= ROGER GEORGES RINUT BMZ//gf ATTORNEV June 18, 1940. R. G. RINO-r 2,204,698

STARTER Filed April 14, 193e s sheets-sheet z ConPRL-JJED INVENTOR= ROGR GE/ORG-BS RINOT STARTER Filed April 14, 1956 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 E |NvENToR= Roc-ER GEORGES RINO-r BYQaanz/,Mgf

AT TOR N EMS June 18, 1940. R, G, amg-r 2,204,698

STARTER Filed April- 14,- 19.36 S'Sheets-Sheet 4 l PREJJURE REnucER 87! Y @i sf /v l l mw 'mm l INVENTOR= ROGER GEORGES RINOT yy g;

^ ATTORNEMS June 18, 1940. R, G, R|N0T 2,204,698

STARTER Filed April 14, 193e s sheets-sheet 5 w f2 fes QM 11.9

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Fig/A /z/ INVENTOR= @,/24 ROGER GEORGES RINOT awww@ Patented June 18, 1940 NPari-:Nr OFFICE 4 sran'rlza l A Roter Georges Rinot, Paris, France Application April 14,

193s, semi No. 74,336.

In France April 25, 1935 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a starter for explosion enginesof any kind in which the driving medium is a fluid under pressure, for instance compressed air.

The main object of my invention is to provide a starter of the character indicated which will Abe very effective and economical in use, and

reasonably simple in construction.

'Another object is to have such a starter which l imparts uniformly the same impulse to the shaft to be driven at each starting operation and within the various members are merely `subjected In the same and no undue stresses.

A further object is to have the reciprocated 15 members constantly balanced during movement.

Yet another object is to have all the mechanical members safely operating in oil while avoiding transmission losses. It is also an object to automatically check any untimely return movements of the engine.

\ Other objects and the various advantages will appear hereinafter as the specification proceeds. The following description, given by Way of example only, will point out the features of the I invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. l is a partial elevation of the starter; Fig. 2 is a section, made according to line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section on line 3-3 a f Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section made Aaccording to line -t of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partial underside plan view; Fig. 6 shows the arrangement of the comu pressed air tanks; Fig. 7 is an axial section of the pressure reducing device; i

Fig. 8 shows a modification in the mode of actuation of the main shaft of the starter, in the upper portion in cross section, in the lower portion in elevation;

Fig. 9 is an axial section taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an elevation and Fig. 1l an end view of a roller appearing in the upper and lower portions of Fig. 9.

` Fig. l2 is an elevation and Fig. 13 an end view of a wedge member also appearing in Fig. 9.

The driving elements of the starter are con- 50 stituted by pistons the rods of which are designated by reference numbers I and'l and one head of which can be seen at 2. This head has reciprocating movement in a cylinder 3. Both cylinders are parallel and arranged at right anu gles to the main shaft 4 of the starter, which shaft 4 is coaxial with the shaft 5-5 to be driven.

The piston rods I and I'L are each provided with a rectilinear vset of teeth 6 6 each set being arranged opposite the other. One and the same pinion l, having a cylindrical set ofteeth, y

constantly meshes with the sets of teeth 6 and 6*, Said pinion is keyed on a shaft 8.

Guides 9 and 9, attached to the casing I0 by supports II and Il", are provided for guiding the piston rods'l and' I'-. Pits I2I2 allow the complete stroke of the pistons. 'Ihe transformation of the rectilinear movement of the pistons into a movement of rotation is effected through the medium of rackdevices. For that purpose, each of the piston rods, I and I, is provided with a rectilinear set of teeth I3 and I3. These teeth mesh with toothed crown wheels I4 and I4 resting on the shaft 4 through the medium of a needle bearing I5. A ring i6, fitted about shaft 4, is rigid with this crown wheel.

Apertures such as I1 (Fig. 2) are provided opposite each other in the crown wheel I4 and ring i6. In two corresponding apertures is fitted, with some play, a pin I8 rigid with a shoe member such as I9 thus mounted between the lateral part of the crown I4 and a sleeve 24 keyed` to the shaft 4. A spring, such as 2li, connects the pin I8 to a xed point of the crown Wheel it.

The latter is provided with recesses 2l, four in number in the example shown, in which rollers 22 are arranged.

Upon actuation of crown wheel llt in a clockwise direction by the downward movement of the piston rod I, these rollers are wedged in the angle formed by an oblique portion 23 of the shoe members I9 and firmly press the latter against the outer periphery of the sleeves, 2i, 24B. This action is facilitated by the effect of the springs 20, which constantly press the shoe I9 against the corresponding roller 22.

Discs 25-25 are also keyed on shaft 4, near each of the sleeves 24-24. These discs `carry at their periphery, pins or gudgeons 26-26, the heads 2I--2l of which, moreover adjustable in position, serve as bearings for calibrated springs 2B2lla which, through the medium of crown wheels 2li-29a shiftably mounted on the pins 26--26, press packings 311-30 against the outer face 'of discs 25-25,

By the action of the various springs 28, regularly distributed about the crown wheel 29, and of the packing 30 rigid with a cap 3l presented by the shaft 5 to be driven, a stress hunting clutch 1s provided between this shaft and the of the piston rods are, at every instant, equal in absolute value but of reverse directions. The members receiving a reciprocatingmovement, being of symmetrical structure, are therefore constantly balanced.

During the downward stroke of rod for instance, the actuation of shaft 4 is effected through the medium of the crown wheel |4 owing to the wedging of the rollers 22 in the angle 23 formed by the shoe members I9. During this phase, the other piston idly rises, the shoe members` |9 being no longer pressed against sleeve 24'* by the action of the rollers 22a. At the end of the stroke, the functions of the pistons are inverted.

The actuation of shaft 5 by shaft 4 is effected through the medium of the clutch devices above described. In this way, the members of the starter are subjected only to stresses smaller than that from which the elements of the clutch slip one of the other. In these conditions, an untimely return movement has not any prejudicious` infiuence on the members of the starter. This protection is moreover practically indispensable for the proper operation of the starter, considering that a rotation, in a direction reverse to the normal direction of shaft 4, causes the movement of the piston rods i and |a to be stopped owing to their common engagement with pinion 1.

The clutch devices moreover ensure the checking of the return movements of the engine and avoid the dangers they involve.

In this case, the gaskets 3(1--30a slide against the exterior surface of discs 28-28, the braking strain being produced by the action of springs 28--28.

For distribution purposes, a small bar 33 (Figs. 1 and 5) is keyed, outside the casing I8. at the end of shaft 8. 'Ihis bar ends in two heads 34 and 35 traversed by screws, 38 and 31 respectively, which serve as stopping members. A catch 38 is mounted loose on the shaft 8; this catch carries a finger 39 extending outside the plane of the catch and which is thus within the plane of the trajectories of the screws 36 and 31. 'I'he catch presents in its plane tappets 42 and 43.

A sector 44 is mounted loose o'n the shaft 8 behind the catch 38 (Fig. l). On the periphery of this sector there are arranged two cams 48 and 4|, with symmetrical profiles. This sector carries a boss 44' which extends beyond its plane so as to be in the plane ofthe trajectory of the tappets 42 and 43.

Cooperating with the cams 49 and 4| there are rollers, 45 and 48 respectively, carried at the end of levers 41 and 48, mounted to oscillate around axes 41', 48', integral with the case I8. 'Ihe other ends of the levers 41, 48 are in contact with the valve rods 58 and 49. A

The catch 38 is moreover provided with di-l 82, wound around said rods, the other support of which is the bottom of the seats 55, 88.

In the position shown in Fig. 1, the dog or catch 38 has been turned, by the action of the screw 38 on the finger 39, until the edges 88 and 84 are in contact with the rollers 81 and 88. At the following moment, and the rotation of the bar continuing, the action of the springs 8| and 82 imparts a powerful impulse to the dog 38 by the pressure of the rollers 51, 58 against `the slopes of the prismatic projections 5|, 52 and the tappet 43 violently strikes against the boss 44' (direction of rotation reverse to the clockwise directlom) the sector 44 thus turns suddenly around the shaft 8, while cam 4| simultaneously depresses the roller 48 of lever 48 and thereby actuates the latter with consequent sudden raising of the valve rod 49. At the same time the low portion of cam 40 moves under roller 48 of lever 41 upon which the valve rod 58 rests. Thus a free operation of the valve rods 49 and 50 results as an advantage of this invention.

Each of the valve rods, 49 for instance (Fig. 2)

carries, at its upper end an adjustable abutment' screw 85 constantly in contact with the end 88 of a fork 81 pivoted about a pin 88. These forks each engage with a valve head such as 89. The head 89 is constantly urged upwardly, position of admission, by a spring 10. Fluid-tightness is obtained by packings 1| and 12.

Compressed air is admitted through a chamber 13 in communication with the cylinder in the upper position of the head 89, owing to the lifting of a ball 14 by a needle 15 rigid with the head. Orifices 18 are formed in said head for the passage of compressed air. A plug 11 closes the upper part of chamber 13.

For simplification and for greater compactness, a compressor is moreover incorporated with the starter in one and the same unit.

For that purpose, the shaft 4 carries an eccentric wheel 18 which engages with a roller 19, having a large rolling surface, said wheel being mounted, through the medium of a needle bearing 88, on a pin 8|, carried by a piston 82.

This piston moves in a cylinder 83; two longitudinal grooves 84 and 85 allow the passage of the roller 19. The return of piston 82 downwardly is e'ected through a powerful spring 98, surrounding the cylinder 83, and taking a bearing on a fixed part of the casing i3.

The compressed air is delivered through a pipe line 81, separated fromthe inner space of the cylinder 83 by a free valve 88. 'I'he delivery pressure acts, through a tubular member 89, on the upper face of a diaphragm 98, on the other face of which a calibrated spring 9| exerts its action. The downward displacements under the influence of the delivery pressure, are reproduced by a rod 92 which, for the depressed position of diaphragm 93, unseats, through a needle 93, a ball 94 which separates,'upon eiiicient operation of the compressor, the compression chamber from the atmospheric air suction port 95.

It will be understood that as long as the delivery pressure remains lower than a predetermined value, the rod 92 remains in its upper position and allows the ball 94 to fit upon its seat upon upward movement of piston 82. The tank supplied with compressed air.

On the contrary, beyond this value, the ball 94 remains constantly unseated, so that the compressed cylinder charge, instead of lifting the valve 00, escapes in the atmosphere through Dort l.

Fins or gills-98 are provided for cooling purposes at the upper part of the compressor.

The compressed air is sent through a pipe fitting` 01' into a tank or reservoir which, preferably, feeds the starter through the medium of a second tank. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

The tank fed by the compressor, or main tank, 01, is separated from the auxiliary tank 98, by a pressure reducing device 99 which maintains the pressure existing in tank 90 to a constant value.

This pressure reducing device is shown in longitudinal section, on a large scale, in Fig. '1. It comprises a chamber |00 connected to tank 01 by a fitting I0| and a pipe line 80'. A valve |02 is arranged at the inlet of this chamber. It is on the one hand urged in closed position by a light spring |03 and can, on the other hand,.be subjected to the action of a rod |04 rigid with a collapsible box I05,.composed of one or more elements, two in the example illustrated, |08 and |01, and directed accordingto the axis of said 4 box.

The distortion of box is prevented in the transverse direction by hoops |08, I 09 and |I0.

This box contains a calibrated spring IIO, arranged in alignment with rod |04. It is carried `by a wall II I rigid with the body of the pressure reducing device and said wall is provided with orifices II3 for the passage of air towards the auxiliary tank through a pipe line I I4.

If the pressure existing in tank 98 is sufficient, its action on box |05 is such that, notwithstanding the presence of the spring H0, the rod |04 is in offset position and does not prevent the closing of valve |02 by the action of the air at a high pressure contained in tank 91.

If, on the contrary, the pressure in tank 90 lowers, for instance owing to one or more startings, the action of spring IIO* is sufilcient for causing the valve |02 to be lifted and for causing tank 00 to be fed up to the desired rate oi pressure.

The setting in action of the starter is simply obtained by causing tank 00 to communicate with the chamber 13 by opening a cock 90" on the line 00' connecting the reservoir 91 to the reducing member 99.

According to the modification, illustrated in Figs. 8 to 13, of the mode of actuation of the main shaft of the starter, the wedging members are constituted by wedges II5 shown in Figs. 12-13; these wedges are in the shape of a cylinder provided with a flat portion IIB and they terminate in a screw-threaded portion II1;` on the head Ill is formed a slot II9 for the introduction of a screw-driver. The wedges IIS are rendered rigid with the crown wheel I4 by means of nuts |20; they are given the exactnecessary setting by rotation under the action of a screwdriver introduced in slot IIS.

With these wedges cooperate rollers I2 I, shown in Figs. and 11, provided at their ends with small rods |23 and |24; the latter are fitted into apertures |25 and |26 provided, on the one hand, in ring I6 and, on the other hand, in crown wheel I4. To these small rods are secured springs |28 and |21, the other ends of which are attached to ring I6 and crown wheel I4, respectively.

'I'his mode of actuation has the advantages that itis the same members which are used at one and the other ends of the main shaft of the starter, and this ensures a standardization of the manufacture. Moreover, these members are simple, not costly, and they can be easily fitted up in position. Furthermore, they ensure an actuation which is positive, even in oil in cold weather and absolutely progressive even for a violent putting in communication with the source of energy, and finally, without appreciable wear, even after a very long time of use, resulting therefrom.

I claim:

In a compressed uid starter for explosion motors. the combination of two cylinders, two pistons individually reciprocable in these cylinders, two piston rods, two relatively angularly disposed fiat surface portions on the piston rods, a toothed rack on each of said flat surface portions, a pinion having a shaft and meshing with the two toothed racks, a small bar member keyed on the shaft of said pinion, heads serving as abutment elements at the ends of said small bar member, a disc loosely mounted on the shaft of said pinion, a finger rigid with said disc and serving as an abutment element corresponding to and receiving impulses upon opposite portions thereof from said two abutment elements, prismatic shoulders on this disc, two rollers individually and slidabiy mounted in two boxes, elastic means, said rollers being subjected to the action of said elastic means and said elastic means resiliently yielding when the rollers are pushed down by said shoulders and returning its energy after the rollers pass the crests of the shoulders, two drivers carried by said disc, two cams mounted concentrically with the shaft of said pinion, a boss integral with these two cams, two levers, two rollers cooperating with said cams and carried at one end of each of said levers, two distribution valves having stems constantly in contact with the other ends of said levers so that the admission and exhaust in the cylinders, though oc-Y,

curring at the end of the stroke of the pistons, are energetically controlled by reason of the energy restored by the elastic means, a driven shaft, and means for transmitting the motion of each of the pistons to the guided shaft only during the working stroke of said pistons.

ROGER GEORGES RINT. 

